Hi,
About two weeks ago (9-12-2025), I had a TEE (TransEsophageal Echocardiogram) performed, which was the first step toward getting approval for the implant of a Watchman device in my left atrial appendage. Try saying “TransEsophogeal Electrocardiogram” 10 times really fast!!!
The Watchman was approved and, on September 22nd, I underwent a minimally invasive heart procedure called an ablation. It was to try and stop the AFib (atrial fibrillation) that I was diagnosed with several years ago. During that procedure I also had a device called a Watchman installed in my left atrial appendage (the LAA).
Think of the LAA as a small (fairly useless) side chamber inside the atrium. Normally, when blood is pumped into the atria, some of it enters the LAA, and then is pumped out with the next heartbeat. In AFib patients, since their heartbeat is irregular, blood can pool in the LAA, and might not get pumped out with the next heartbeat. If blood pools there too long it can form a clot. If the clot gets sent onward it can enter the brain. Instant stroke.
AFib is more common in older adults. Normally the heart beats in a reasonably steady rhythm. With AFib, the atria (the heart’s upper chambers), beat irregularly, and usually at a faster rate than normal. A normal resting heart rate for adults is typically anywhere between 60 and 100 beats every minute (some athletes have a resting heart rate lower than 60, though). Before the surgery, mine fluctuated in and above the higher range, usually between 80 and 120. One minute I was at 85, a few minutes later at 115, then a minute or two later down to 90. Since the surgery I have been consistently in the mid-to-high 50’s (except right after I exercise, of course. Yay!
The irregularity of my pulse rate before made me more susceptible to stroke, so I was on an anti-coagulant medication (Eliquis), and another one called amiodarone (which helps regulate my rhythm, keeping it in that middle range, not down to 60, or up to 150 or so). Between the two my heart didn’t work as hard, but I couldn’t stay on amiodarone forever. The heart ablation helped with that by removing the AFib symptoms. My heart rhythm is back into a normal rhythm now. Before the operation, the amiodarone was doing that artificially (sort of).
Details on the three procedures, the TEE, the ablation, and the Watchman implantation will be in the next few posts.
The next post is about the TEE test.
Michael
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